2.

10 Understanding Work,
Energy, Power and Efficiency
Work

Energy

Power

Efficiency
A woman is
lifting up a box
of tennis ball.

The woman pushing the trolley.

The men are pulling up the boat.

 Work Done
Product of the applied force and the
displacement of an object in the
direction of the applied force

W = F x s = Joule (J)
W = work done
F = force
s = displacement in the direction of the force
Example 1
If a box is pushed with a force of 40 N and is
moves steadily through a distance of 3 m in
the direction of the force, calculate the work
done.
Solution:
F = 40 N
s =3m

Work done, W = Fs = 40N x 3m

= 120J
 F F

 

W = F cos  x s
Example 2
A woman pulls a suitcase with a force of 25 N
o
at an angle of 60 with the horizontal. What is
the work done by the woman if the suitcase
moves a distance of 8 m along the floor.
Solution:
F = 25 N
s=8m
0 60o
W = 25 cos 60 x 8 = 100 J
Q1:
Figure 1 shows a girl lifting up a 3 kg flower
pot steadily to a height of 0.4 m. what is the
work done by the girl?

Solution:
Weight of the pot, w = mg
= 3kg x 9.8ms-1
= 29.4N
F = 29.4 N, s = 0.4 m
W = 29.4N x 0.4m = 11.76J
Q2:
Figure 2 shows a fishmonger pulling a crate of
fish along the floor with a force of 40 N thought a
distance of 6 m. what is the work done in pulling
the crate?

Solution:
F = 40 N
s=6m
W = F cos  x s = 40 cos 50 x 6
0

= 154.26J
 Energy

Kinetic Energy Elastic Energy

Gravitational potential Energy

Chemical Energy Sound Energy

Heat Energy
Work done and the change in Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to
its motion

u=0 v

m F m F

Since u = 0, v2 = 2as
Therefore s = v2/ 2a
2 2
W = Fs = (ma) (v /2a) = ½ mv
Thus
2
Ek = ½ mv
Work done and Gravitational Potential Energy

From
h W = Fs = mgh
m kg Then

Ep = mgh
Example 3
In a school sports event, a student of mass 40
kg runs past the finishing line with a velocity
of 7 ms-1. calculate his kinetic energy.
Solution:
-1
m = 40 kg v = 7 ms
2
Kinetic energy, Ek = ½ mv
2
= ½ x 40 x 7
= 980 J
Example 4
A durian fruit hanging from its branch has
gravitational potential energy due to its higher position
above the ground. The mass of the fruit is 2.5 kg and it
hangs 3 m above the ground. What is the gravitational
potential energy of the fruit? (g = 10 ms-1)
Solution:
m = 2.5 kg h = 3 m
Gravitational Potential energy,
-1
Ep = mgh = 2.5kg x 10ms x 3m
= 75J
Principle of Conservation of Energy
Energy can be transferred from
one form to another, but it cannot
be created or destroyed.

½mv2 = mgh
Example 5
On winning a match, a tennis player hits a tennis ball
vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 25ms-1.
what is the maximum height attained by the ball? (g =
10ms-2)
Solution:
½ mv2 = mgh
2
½ x 25 = 10h
2
h=
25 = 31.25m
2 x10
Example 6

A coconut falls from a height of 18 m to the

ground. What is the velocity at which the
coconut hits the ground? (g = 10ms-2)
Solution:
½ mv2 = mgh
2
½ x v = 10 x 18
v2 = 360
v = 360 = 18.97 ms-1
 Power

Work done
power =
Time taken

W
P = = watt (W)
t
A man walking up stairs
Power

weightlifter
Athlete running

Washing
machine

Jet engine
Example 7
A weightlifter lifts 160 kg of weights from the floor to a
height of 2 m above his head in a time of 0.8 s. what is
the power generated by the weightlifter during this time?
(g = 10ms-2)
Solution:
m = 160 kg s = 2m t = 0.8s

P = W/ t = Fs/ t
= (mg)s/ t
= (160 x 10)2/ 0.8
= 4000 W
 Efficiency
Useful energy output Eout
Efficiency = X 100%
Energy input Ein

Thermal and
Unwanted energy
sound energy

Energy Energy output,

input, Ein Eout
Device / machine
 Efficiency
Chemical energy electrical energy

Chemical energy kinetik energy

Electrical energy kinetik energy

 Example 8
An electric motor in a toy crane can lift a 0.12 kg weight through a height
of 0.4 m in 5s. During this time, the batteries supply 0.8J of energy to the
motor. Calculate
(a) The useful energy output of the motor
(b) The efficiency of the motor
Solution:
m = 0.12kg h = 0.4m t = 5s Ein = 0.8J

(a)Eout = Ep = mgh

= 0.12kg x 9.81ms-2 x 0.4m

= 0.4709J
(b)Efficiency = Eout/ Ein x 100%
= 0.4709J / 0.8J x 100%
= 58.86%
 2.11 Appreciating the importance of
maximizing the efficiency of devices
When a device is operating at the maximum possible
efficiency:
• Less input energy is required to produce the same useful
output energy
• The cost of operating the device is reduced
• The unwanted output energy is reduced
• The energy resources in this world can be used over a
longer period of time
Output energy
Input energy Kinetic energy
from petrol of the car

Energy loss as Energy loss as Energy loss due

heat sound to air resistance

Energy loss due to Energy loss due to

friction in the engine friction at other
moving parts
Thanks…………